How to save money on vacation. How to save money on vacation. Smart savings on food

The rules, which are derived from the experience of thousands of travelers, will allow not to abandon foreign destinations even with a very modest personal budget item allocated for vacation, Rockefeller writes.

Rule 1: Who gets up first, gets discounts

Advance planning is one of the main rules of an economical vacation. It makes it possible to catch the most advantageous offers of airlines, which usually diverge in the first place - and it is tickets that are one of the most expensive components of a foreign holiday. In addition, many hotels and travel companies offer discounts to those who book a room or tour in advance. It is easier (and cheaper) to do this via the Internet - using the sites www.all-hotels.com (hotel offers around the world), www.evrocheapo.com (booking cheap accommodation in Europe), www.hostels.com (hostels around the world). world) and others. Leading Russian tour operators warn that this year one should not wait for the “last minute deals” beloved by Russians, but this does not mean that there will be no cheap tours at all. It makes sense to constantly follow the news of airlines and travel agencies. For example, on www.avia.Travel.ru you can compare the prices of different companies for air tickets, as well as find special offers. Among the specialized unofficial sites where the hottest information about budget proposals appears is http://community.livejournal.com/cheaptrip

Rule 2: Rely on yourself

Those who do not want to overpay for the trip, as a rule, organize it themselves. Buying a ready-made tour has its advantages, eliminating certain hassles, but you have to pay for the services of an intermediary. Meanwhile, you can do everything yourself - make a route, get a visa, and use the Internet to book flights and a hotel in almost any country in the world. There are many resources on the Internet where travelers share their experience of independent travel. Read reviews and advice, ask questions - for example, on a popular forum dedicated to independent travel http://forum.awd.ru, in the community http://community.livejournal.com/ru_travel, etc. If you speak English, go to www. virtualtourism.com or www.tripadvisor.com, where travelers from all over the world share their impressions of countries, hotels, restaurants.

Rule 3: Visa without intermediaries

It is not so scary to apply for a visa on your own, as many people imagine, and in this matter it is quite possible to do without the intermediary services of agencies - of course, not free. First of all, check out the list of countries with a visa-free or simplified entry regime for Russians on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry http://www.mid.ru/dks.nsf/mnsdoc /04.04.02 - You may not need to do anything at all. If a visa is required, it is best to find out the conditions for obtaining it on the website of the embassy of the country where you are going - the addresses can be found using any Internet search engine. You can also use the database http://www.nwa.com/services/timatic.html (in English), where this information is brought together. You will need to pay a consular fee, which varies depending on the country (on average it is $ 50, but can be either lower or higher), as well as confirm your ability to pay. The latter can be done by presenting a bank statement, and in a number of embassies it is enough to show traveler's checks for the required amount. It is also better to find out all the details on the websites of the embassies of specific countries.

Rule 4: Right time, right place

If the planned vacation suddenly turned out to be too expensive, then it can be “brought closer to reality” by changing the time or direction of the trip. Prices in the "high" and "low" seasons differ markedly, and for those who want to visit the country of their dreams at all costs, it is better to choose a month when most tourists do not want to go there. For example, in ski resorts, the “high” season falls on Christmas and New Year holidays, as well as February-March, and the “low” season starts around January 10 and lasts until the end of the month. The “high” season for holidays in the Mediterranean is from July to September, if you want to save money, try to choose other months if possible: in October-November, the “velvet season” begins in many Mediterranean countries. Check the weather forecast, find out the water temperature. The first can be done on numerous meteorological sites, for example, www.gismeteo.ru, www.weather.com, www.intellicast.com. The water temperature is usually published on diving portals such as www.diveglobal.com. If the country is not as important as the type of vacation, you should prefer cheaper popular routes instead of more expensive exotic ones: as a rule, even if the cost of a vacation turns out to be about the same, then a flight to an exotic country will “eat up” the lion's share of the budget.

Rule 5: The hotel is not the goal!

On any foreign trip, a hotel is the place where you want to spend the least time. So what's the point of overpaying for a room? Many European and American tourists have long preferred hostels over hotels, and Russians are joining this trend. There are a large number of portals on the Internet where you can choose and book a hostel in almost any country in the world. The largest ones are www.hostels.com, www.hihostels.com, as well as links to country portals are contained in a special Wikipedia section http://wiki.hostelmanagement.com/wiki/List_of_Hostel_Chains. By the way, the cost of hotels has also decreased - according to the Russian Union of Travel Industry, currently discounts on hotels in Paris are about 13%, hotels in Prague have fallen in price by 20%, and now you need to pay 30% less for a room in a number of London hotels.

Rule 6: Save money on local transport

If you want to see as much as possible during your trip and spend as little as possible, use the most economical modes of transport. Somewhere local airlines will be more profitable, somewhere - railway communication, somewhere you will win if you travel by bus. Take a look at the www.seat61.com portal, where you can find links to the railway websites of various countries. Do not be too lazy to find out from experienced tourists - at least by reading reviews on forums and blogs - how the situation is in a particular country. Consider renting a car - for example, in the US it will cost about $400 for 2 weeks, which will be much cheaper than public transport, especially if you take a car together. The easiest way to rent a car is through the Internet - for example, on the websites www.carrental.com, www.budget.com, www.eurocar.com and others. Just do not forget that you will need international driving license - they will need to be issued in advance in Russia.

Rule 7: Be aware!

Rule 8: The less cash, the better

The dollar and euro continue to grow, and its decline is not expected in the near future, so the sooner you can buy the currency, the better. It is impossible to do without the use of financial instruments. Cards are needed at least in order to pay for tickets and services via the Internet. Traveler's checks will be useful both as a way to save money in foreign currency, and to confirm solvency when applying for a visa, and to protect money. If checks are stolen, damaged or lost, they can be restored in full free of charge, usually within 24 hours. In addition, when traveling, both a card and checks will come in handy as a means of paying for purchases or services. You should find out in advance from the bank how much it costs to use ATMs in the country of destination. As for checks, they can usually be exchanged for local currency with a commission of 0.5 to 3% of the amount, but there are more than 100,000 points around the world where checks are exchanged for local cash without commission. You can find their addresses using the website www.aetclocator.com, and additional information about traveler's checks can be obtained from the website www.amex.ru.

Rule 9: Save money on flights

Often, air travel is the most expensive component of a trip, and it is not only possible, but necessary, to cut its cost! First, buy your ticket in advance: the best airline deals sell out first. Secondly, round-trip tickets are more profitable, so it is better to build a route around the country on the principle of a “completed circle”, arriving and departing from the same airport on the same flight. Fly with budget airlines, the so-called discounters - their offers can be found using specialized websites, for example, www.skyscanner.net, www.flylowcostairlines.org, www.wichbudget.com, www.flylowcost.ru. LiveJournal has a community dedicated to cheap flights - http://community.livejournal.com/low_cost_air/. And finally, instead of two short trips, it is better to arrange one long one - for two to three weeks. And it is not at all necessary to be limited to one country at the same time - especially if you are going to Europe, where additional visas will not be required to cross borders between states.

Rule 10: Read!

Save on guides and tour guides. Arm yourself with guidebooks, maps, historical reference books, chat on forums and get to know your destination country well. For example, in LiveJournal (www.livejournal.com) there are a large number of thematic communities dedicated to various countries of the world. The easiest way to find information of interest in Russian is to use the search engine http://blogs.yandex.ru. If you want "pictures" - study photos of travelers on www.zooomr.com, www.photobucket.com, www.flikkr.com and other photo sites. After choosing the most interesting, make your own itinerary. The degree of freedom in this case will be much higher than when buying a sightseeing tour - at any time it will be possible to make adjustments. At the same time, it is advisable to learn at least the most necessary phrases from a phrasebook in the language of the host country - in case you still go astray, for example, using www.wikitravel.com. If you prefer ready-made routes, then you can visit such sites www.roughguides.com, www.frommers.com, where guidebooks are published in electronic form.

Let's talk about what is vacation budget And how to save money on vacation. I will say right away that the option “do not go anywhere and stay at home” will not work here. Without proper rest, you will gradually lose your ability to work, become nervous, which will negatively affect relationships in the team and in the family. Therefore, vacation is an absolutely necessary mental and physical unloading for your body.

You need to rest! But here's how to do it with a minimum load on, without denying yourself too much comfort? This is what will be discussed now. So how do you save money on vacation?

Rule 1. Vacation must be planned well in advance. In any case, having a well-thought-out action plan is already half the success, and a vacation is no exception in this regard, because advance planning right away will significantly save your vacation budget.

– Firstly, this way you can “catch” the most profitable offers of tour operators;

– Secondly, most foreign hotels provide discounts for those who book rooms in advance;

- Thirdly, this way you can take advantage of the most advantageous offers of airlines, and after all, the cost of air travel is one of the key items in the vacation budget.

Thus, the vacation budget must be planned in advance, monthly setting aside a certain part of the income for the trip. It's best to start saving for the next one as soon as you finish your next vacation. This will allow you to evenly distribute the burden on the family budget for the whole year, which is much easier than looking for the right amount right away or in a couple of months.

Rule 2. Never rest on credit! To have a rest, as well as to live, it is necessary on means. If you have not earned a vacation (or, more likely, you do not know how to competently), then you will have to relax easier. If you care about personal finances, a vacation on credit is categorically unacceptable, just like.

Rule 3. Traveling "savage" can be much cheaper than through a tour operator. Now the Internet allows you to independently outline a tourist route, a list of all the cities and sights that you want to visit, book hotel rooms, air and railway tickets ... In addition, traveling “savage” is more interesting in terms of adventure. Therefore, when thinking about how to save money on vacation, be sure to consider this option.

Rule 4. Get visas without intermediaries. Intermediaries in the issuance of visas always wind up a considerable commission for themselves, which immediately increases the vacation budget. You can do without these extra costs if you do the visa processing yourself.

Rule 5. The services of foreign tour operators may be cheaper than domestic ones. That is, the cost of the same tour from a foreign operator, as a rule, is lower than from a domestic one. In addition, many domestic travel agencies are, in fact, intermediaries for foreign tour operators, selling their services with a cheat of their commission. In addition, many hotels provide discounts to their foreign tour operators, but do not provide our domestic tour operators. Thus, you can save your vacation budget by ordering a tour directly from a foreign travel agency via the Internet.

Rule 6. Rest in high season is the most expensive! Accordingly, when thinking about how to save money on vacation, it is better not to plan your vacation during the peak tourist season. At any time of the year, you can find a resort where the tourist off-season begins at this moment, and relaxing there is much cheaper than at the height of the influx of tourists.

Rule 7. A hostel or private accommodation is cheaper than a hotel or hotel. If you intend to actively travel, then the hotel is the place where you will linger the least, in fact, only spend the night. Then why overpay if you can spend the night in a hostel for much less money, thus saving the vacation budget?

Rule 8. In resort areas, goods and services are many times more expensive! You can significantly save your vacation budget if you eat and buy the necessary things in establishments focused on local residents, and not on tourists. The cost of goods and services may differ several times!

Rule 9 Find out in advance which currency is more profitable to carry with you. Before leaving on vacation, ask in advance about the exchange rates at the place of arrival and, based on this, decide which currency is more profitable for you to carry there. Do not exchange currency at airports, train stations, hotels, resort areas: there you will always lose a lot on the exchange rate. It is often more profitable to pay with a card, since in this case the currency of the card account is converted into the desired currency of the country at the official rate, and not at the commercial one.

Rule 10. Explore all the sights and tourist routes on your own. Another rule on how to save money on vacation is saving on guides and guides, who can charge a lot of money for their services. You can easily create your desired sightseeing list and itinerary on your own if you devote some time to researching material on the Internet.

Rule 11. Exchange leave. Abroad, this type of tourism is highly developed. If you speak English well and are not afraid to entrust your home to strangers, you can search the Internet for specialized sites where you can choose an exchange vacation option. In this case, the vacation budget will be saved very significantly, because you do not have to pay for living abroad or in another city at all.

Rule 12. Big company is better. If you are thinking about how to save money on vacation and at the same time like big and noisy companies, then this option is just for you. So you can rent one apartment for everyone, chip off on gas, etc., which will reduce the vacation budget for each member of the company.

Rule 13. Hot tours. Of course, last-minute tours are one of the most common options for saving on vacation. Having managed to take advantage of the advantageous offer, in some cases you can save up to half of the vacation budget and even more. The main thing is that at this moment you have free time and an amount for rest.

Rule 14. A beginner or little-known resort is cheaper than a popular one, but no worse. Moreover, not only in the cost of tours and accommodation, but also in all current expenses (food, excursions, entertainment, souvenirs, etc.). Keep this in mind when thinking about how to save money on vacation.

Rule 15. Save on mobile communications. Arriving in another country, buy local SIM cards, it will be much cheaper for you to call each other and to your homeland compared to using roaming.

I told you about how you can save money on vacation. By using at least a few of these tips, you can significantly reduce the vacation budget and, therefore, save the family budget.

I wish you all reasonable and competent planning of the family budget. See you at! Stay with us!

Summer is coming! Time for travel, adventure and long-awaited vacation! Surely most of you dream of going to the sea this summer! I think so… However, many traditionally consider vacation too expensive for themselves. Who cares about the rest of the time, I advise the article "". I will tell the rest about my experience of planning a vacation.

I advise you to make a choice in favor of a domestic manufacturer! Russia has the Black and Azov Seas, Lake Baikal and many other options for a great vacation. Even if you are used to vacationing abroad, just take a look at the benefits of vacationing in Russia that you may not have even thought about:

You will be able to communicate with anyone, even if you do not know English, go anywhere without a guide, and bargain more efficiently when buying magnets and other souvenirs!
Due to the instability of the dollar and the euro, vacations abroad are turning into an expensive pleasure ... since last year, vacation prices have soared by an average of 65%.
There are no strange flora and fauna in our seas (moray eels, sea urchins, stingrays). You can swim even at night!
More familiar to the body, you will not feel bad from a change in climate or food! And barbecue is everywhere!
Everything is cheaper! I now live in Moscow and found the time when there were markets everywhere. In the markets you could get dressed and buy food for cheap! So, in the resort towns of Russia they have been preserved!
You support the Russian economy by choosing a domestic manufacturer! Down with the crisis! :)

Savings on ticket purchases

I suggest buying air tickets for. Don't worry if you don't have them. I will talk about how to use someone else's miles to buy air tickets and how the ticketing process works in this case. Savings on average are about 30% of the cost.

Find out how many miles you need to pay for our tickets. For example, here.
We select an offer to sell miles on the bulletin board. For example, here.
We find a suitable seller, we agree with him on the transaction. Before calling, be sure to read the article: “The Art of Bargaining. How to work a million in 4 minutes?

I advise you to make registration at the Aeroflot office. It happens like this:

You make an appointment with the seller to meet in the office.
Together you contact the manager to issue a ticket.
Tickets are issued on the data that you provide, and the seller of miles pays for them.
Upon completion of the transaction, you pay the seller the amount agreed in advance, or simply run away like Zoidberg. :)

Savings on accommodation

5-star hotels with daily housekeeping and a large swimming pool are certainly very nice, but after a long seal rest, you will return back as a tanned vegetable! To restore productivity at work, you will have to go through 5 stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Office workers will not let you lie!

I choose camping! After it, a charge of drive, cheerfulness and positive will be guaranteed to you! Life in the wild will restore your tone, pump your survival skills and greatly expand your comfort zone. You will return to the city already a different person, pumping your strength of mind and character! And rediscovering all the benefits of civilization is incredibly pleasant, you begin to appreciate them even more ... even seasonal shutdown of hot water ceases to be a problem! :)

If camping is not to your liking, you can still rent an apartment and get a house at your disposal for a couple of days. You can not even cook, but go to a cafe or order food at home, in Russian resorts these options are very pumped and available to everyone.

Vacation date selection

When planning a vacation, avoid holidays and long weekends - Easter, May, Trinity, autumn-spring school holidays, etc. Prices during this period are artificially inflated according to the principle "who has a rest, and who has a family to feed the news of the year." If weather conditions allow, you can go to the sea in September, when students, schoolchildren, as well as their parents are already sitting at home. On September 1, prices (especially for housing) collapse by 30-40%, sightseeing buses are noticeably empty, and you won’t have to stand in line to take pictures against the backdrop of local attractions.

Savings on excursions

In every tourist city in Russia there are tour desks. Usually their representatives sit on busy streets, train stations, near hotels and beaches, and work for a percentage of sales. Commission wages make tour salespeople very sociable, nice and friendly with potential clients.

So. We approach the representative of the bureau, show keen interest and listen with two ears. What do we need to catch?

Where exactly will you be taken - a city, a village, a reserve, a museum, etc.
What day of the week does the tour take place? That is, on which day all museums, expositions, sights are exactly open ... in general, everything that this excursion involves visiting (I know from my own experience that it’s a shame to come to another city and run into a “cleaning day” sign.
What is located near the place of the excursion, what else can be seen in that area.

Then you find out from local residents (sellers of ice cream, souvenirs ... and other sociable people) the schedule of minibuses and buses, where what kind of transfer will be needed, how much it will take for the road and other details.

You can save a lot of money by exploring the sights on your own. On average, 1 excursion for two with a guide in a comfortable bus costs from $80 to $120. At the same time, the prices for scheduled buses remain quite affordable, and depending on the distance of the route, they will cost $10-$15. Plus entrance fees up to $5 - $10. Total: the difference is up to $50 - $70 per day.

At the same time, you are not tied to a group, you visit only those places that are of interest to you, in one day you can go along the route of several excursions at once.

Savings on souvenirs and gifts

When buying souvenirs, one principle applies - the farther from the coast, the airport and attractions, the cheaper. Never buy souvenirs on the first or second day of your vacation, ask the price and be sure to find the most profitable option. If there is a large supermarket in the city - for gifts you go there, ideally it should be an outlet (outlet) - a shopping center with stock stores. All sorts of promotions, sales ...

Saving on the little things

Take a first aid kit with you from home. On vacation, minor troubles often occur: scratches, indigestion, insect bites, temperature due to acclimatization, etc. In resort towns, pharmacies know the list of medicines that are in high demand, and their prices are set accordingly. Stock up on your own mini-first aid kit before leaving, 5-6 tablets of tablets and a band-aid will not take up much space in your bag, but will help save money in an emergency.

I also always make a list of the most necessary things for the trip in advance, and check it before leaving. The same beach shoes, swimming trunks, exercises, sunglasses, a toothbrush ... on the spot will cost 2-2.5 times more.

How to make money on vacation?

And one more little secret, as little as possible make money on travel. Take your camera with you! Websites and blogs about tourism appear on the Internet every day, and in addition to content, they need unique high-quality photos of hotels, attractions, beaches, parks, and, in principle, the entire infrastructure of resort cities.

How much do these photos cost? Average $4-5 behind 10-15 things. How many photos can I bring back from vacation? 300-400-500 … It all depends on your imagination and ability to take a beautiful (and varied!) angle. Basic photo requirements: clarity, large size, lack of characters (personally you or passers-by), the presence of a description (here you have to keep travel notes or hope for a good memory). Where to sell photos? Through content exchanges, the same Advego. Now I will tell you how to do it.

It is not a fact that the photos will find their buyer quickly, but even after a month it will be nice to receive payment.

Go ahead, friends! We pack our bags :)

Question related to the topic: How do you save on vacation? And which city are you planning to go to this summer, why?”

The holiday season has begun and, as promised, I tell you how to save money on vacation. The list turned out to be very large and of course, it will not be possible to use all the options together, but I think everyone will find something useful for themselves.

Someone will ask, why save on vacation at all, because this is the time when you want to come off to the fullest. Yes, of course, but it's one thing to refuse a trip to the sea for the sake of savings, and quite another to choose an inexpensive route so that you have more money for entertainment.

So, the list of options for how you can save money on vacation:

Do not go anywhere, but wallow at home with a book or weed carrots in the country. Of course, this is not the best option, but it suits a lot of people and not only in terms of saving money. Anyone who often goes on business trips for work can simply dream of such a vacation where there are no airports, trains and hotels, the food is homemade and there is no need to rush anywhere.

Hitchhiking. So they travel both abroad and in Russia. Choose a route, take a map or a navigator, a backpack and go on an adventure.

Travel by private transport. You do not have to overpay for luggage and limit yourself in things. Fuel costs, if you are traveling as a family, will probably come out less than the price that you would have to pay if you went to travel by train. Moreover, this is a great opportunity to choose the route yourself. But the car must be serviceable, reliable and not old, because old cars are not allowed in some countries.

Resting savages- a great way to go on vacation. Come to the resort, find a quiet place, set up a tent and live in the bosom of nature, enjoying peace and quiet. You just need to stock up on a compact gas stove, food and various camping equipment.

Book tickets in advance. Early booking of air tickets helps to save up to 40%. It is necessary from time to time to monitor the websites of carrier companies in order to immediately place an order at the hour of the start of sales. In order not to miss this moment, it is better to subscribe to airline news.

Maintain practical bookkeeping. The vacation has not yet ended, but from the tidy sum set aside for it, there are “horns and legs”? Familiar story? So that during the holidays money does not flow through your fingers, you need to write in advance what amounts you can spend on food, entertainment, gifts and souvenirs without harming your wallet.
You should not cut the budget too much, but thoughtlessly emptying a bank card will leave an unpleasant aftertaste from your vacation.

Rent accommodation with friends. A group of friends or two or three families can save a lot on rent. You just need to rent a multi-room cottage or bungalow for the duration of your vacation. If you equally divide the cost of rent between all vacationers, you get a very attractive amount.

swap houses. A great way to relax in a foreign country and not spend a dime on a hotel or rent a room. Now such services, for the exchange of houses for the holidays, are not uncommon on the Internet. You need to register, post a photo of your home and look for suitable options. But you must be the owner of this property or have written consent from the owner. In addition, you need to choose paid services (membership fees 50-80 euros per year). This is a guarantee that if something happens, you will not stay on the street when you arrive in a foreign country, but at the expense of the owners of the resource, settle in a hotel. In addition, this money is also insurance that you will be compensated for the damage that guests can cause (broken things or a flood).

Use the services of hostels. Hostels are a comfortable version of the usual hostel, they are common abroad, and also exist in large Russian cities. Accommodation in them is much cheaper than in hotels, and the amenities are quite modern: Rooms from two to seven beds, amenities either in the room or in the block, there is a safe or a left-luggage office. Many hostels have air-conditioned rooms with breakfast for guests and internet access. So, going to see a city, you can find out about hostels in advance and settle in one of them, because in any case you just need a place to sleep, and you will be in the city all day.

Choose local tour guides. When buying a tour package, you do not need to agree that excursions are included in it, even if the agent says that it is cheaper. It is better to take into account your mood, the weather on the spot and decide on excursion routes by talking with local agents. It will come out to you at least 2 times cheaper.

Choose your own procedures. Going to mineral waters or other health resorts, you can save the family budget on vacation by settling in the private sector and attending procedures in a sanatorium. Moreover, choosing exactly those that you consider necessary.

Take advantage of gender. There are many bars and nightclubs in the resorts, where the entrance for girls is free. Finding out their addresses, you can save on evening entertainment.

Travel in the off season. Why go to Turkey, Egypt or even the Crimea in July, if at that time there is heat, crowds of tourists and high prices? It is much more pleasant to relax there in spring or autumn, when the sea is warm and prices are 20-25% lower. Yes, and it is more pleasant from the Russian cold weather to return to the summer at least for a while.

Catch "burning" vouchers. If it is not fundamentally important for you where to relax, and you can escape from work at any moment, then this option is definitely for you.

Choose budget options. Any travel agency wants to make more money, so first of all you will be offered the most expensive tours. But, for sure, if you declare that you are limited in funds, you will quickly find quite budget options that will turn out to be no worse than expensive tours.

Collect reviews about the hotel and travel agency. If you are interested in a hotel, do not rush to buy a tour. Look on the Internet for a review about it, though you need to remember that there are always dissatisfied ones, and competitors are not asleep, but if there are a lot of negative reviews (and reasoned ones), then it’s better to look for something else.

Use plastic cards. It is not worth exchanging rubles for foreign currency in advance, since the exchange rate is usually more favorable abroad. In addition, a large amount of cash taken with you increases the risk of losing them. It is better to take some currency in cash for the first time, and on vacation use a plastic bank card. Usually, it offers the most favorable exchange rate.

Find out about the possibilities of discounts at the hotel. Ask the hotel manager or manager for details. Often hotels offer discounts:

to its regular customers;
if you have a certain payment bank card and when paying with it;
certain categories of people (for example, children, students, pensioners);
pleasant, sociable and persistent customers :).

Learn about all free services included in the packages offered to you. These are: free calls, visits to the gym or swimming pool, city tour.

In addition, it is important to prepare for your vacation in advance, decide what you want most - sunbathing on the beach, sightseeing, conquering mountain peaks or traveling from country to country. Having decided on this issue, consider how much you can allocate for the trip, choose a direction, tour operator, collect information about airlines, hotels, excursions, etc. You should not chase after excessive cheapness, because your goal is to have a good rest, and not worry about every ruble spent aimlessly.

Flight booking

1. Set up price alerts

If you already know where you want to go and have at least a few months to spare, it might be too early to buy tickets. Download the Hopper app and create a Google Flights search. If it seems to you that the price is far from ideal, set up an alert. Early planning is the key to success!

2. Sign up for airline mailing lists

3. Take advantage of free stops

Free stops give you the chance to get two trips for the price of one. Free stop programs are offered by several airlines; one of the most famous is Icelandair. You can extend your layover in Iceland for up to seven days. Not only is it free, the airline may even provide you with a tour guide who will show you the best places in the city.

With Finnair, you can stay in Finland for up to five nights to see the Northern Lights and explore the city's restaurants, and if you're in Singapore on a Singapore Airlines flight, you can get an overnight stay in a hotel and take a taxi there for as little as $60.

4. Choose the perfect location

The seat you get on the plane can set the tone for the entire trip. SeatGuru helps travelers understand the pros and cons of each seat before it's too late to change. Find out how close you will be to restrooms, how much power outlets you can count on, how far apart the seats will be, and whether they have reclining backs. The site has user reviews, so you can decide which place suits you best based on reviews from other travelers.

5. Use the 24 hour rule

Most airlines allow travelers to return tickets without commissions within 24 hours of booking. So you can book the best tickets for the right date, even you have to agree on vacation dates with your superiors.

Fees

6. Take instant oatmeal with you

Grace Antipala, who has been a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant since 2011, recommends bringing a packet of instant oatmeal with your favorite toppings (dried fruit, nuts). When drinks are served, ask the flight attendant for some hot water and prepare a healthy breakfast right in the cup.

7. Try Peppermint Essential Oil

Antipala takes a small bottle of peppermint essential oil with her on the flight. She says the oil is “great for nausea during flights, freshens breath and helps with cabin odours.” She puts a few drops on a tissue and takes a deep breath to clear her nose.

8. Bring a collapsible storage basket

A collapsible basket or bag will help you keep your belongings in order during the trip, and on the way back, keep dirty clothes from mixing with clean ones. It is worth taking a bag made of waterproof material to throw a wet swimsuit into it if you have to run from the beach straight to the airport at the last minute.

9. Don't Forget the Face Spray

Another valuable little thing that Antipala constantly takes with her on a flight is a face spray with essential oils that do not allow the skin to dry out throughout the flight.

10. Invest in a comfortable jacket

Antipala also recommends bringing a light but warm and waterproof jacket that fits easily into any bag. “I use it as a pillow, and I take it with me wherever I go - you never know where the cold can catch you,” says the stewardess.

In an Aeroport

11. Get convenient Wi-Fi access

If you want to use Wi-Fi while flying and your airline doesn't offer it for free, purchase access before you get on the plane. You will save money and make a more rational decision about how much you are willing to pay for the Internet. In addition, you can use the handy map with data on Wi-Fi networks at airports around the world, developed by blogger and computer security engineer Anil Polat.

12. Ask for free toys for your kids

Traveling with kids can be tricky, but luckily airlines have plenty of free games and activities for kids to play with, from books, coloring books and puzzles on Lufthansa flights to ukuleles on select Hawaiian Airlines flights.

13. Get a free drink

Some airlines, believe it or not, still offer free alcoholic drinks to economy class passengers. Don't miss out on this opportunity with Air Canada, which offers a wide selection of spirits on international flights, Etihad Airways, which offers wine and other drinks, or KLM.

14. Learn how to easily rebook a delayed or canceled flight

A canceled or delayed flight can bring a lot of problems. This is where Freebird comes in handy - a service that offers travelers a free and fast way to insure themselves against unpleasant surprises. For a flat fee of $19 to $34, depending on the type of itinerary, the service will alert travelers if their flight is delayed or cancelled. In this case, Freebird will offer you to book another available flight, and this can be done directly from your mobile phone - you do not have to wait in line.

On my way

15. Indicate the flight number when booking a car

This can serve as an extra precaution if you have a problem with your flight. If the rental company has your flight details, they will not cancel your booking if the flight is canceled or delayed. Less anxiety in a stressful situation is always a good thing.

16. Search for hotel discounts in real time

Priceline recently added a new feature to its free iPhone app that allows travelers to get real-time information about discounts and special offers at hotels along their itinerary. Information is automatically updated as you move along the route; if you come across a good offer, you can place an order in a matter of seconds.

On site

17. Choose bank cards carefully

Are you traveling abroad? Credit and debit cards come in handy with no additional fees for transactions abroad. Many banks offer special cards for tourists with zero commissions, luggage loss insurance and a points system that can be used to buy flights or book a hotel room.

18. Avoid unnecessary expenses

In different countries, completely unexpected things may turn out to be free - or paid. A perfect example is water in restaurants: in Spain, a waiter can, without asking you, bring a bottle of water, which turns out to be quite expensive when it comes to billing. Find out in advance how things are at your destination.

19. Find out about Special Travel Passes

Arrived in a major city? A universal ticket can help you save money when visiting popular tourist attractions. The Paris Museum Pass, for example, will allow you to visit over 60 popular museums and monuments, while the Firenze Card, which can be purchased in Florence, will give you access to all the major museums in Italy.

20. Find free events

There are fantastic free events in every city if you know where to look. There are many interesting things on city tourist sites, including the schedule of walking tours, such as there are in New York or Amsterdam. Many museums in different cities offer free admission on some days (for example, in Madrid - on Sundays).

Prepared by Lisa Dobkina